An Italian coastguard official who berated the captain of the ill-fated Costa Concordia is aiming to join the country's senate.
Gregorio De Falco was captain of the port of Livorno at the time of the cruieship's sinking, which resulted in 32 deaths. De Falco ordered the ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, back to the stricken vessel after he had he had fled to the shore on a lifeboat before the Costa Concordia had been fully evacuated.
"Vada a bordo, cazzo [Get back on board, damn it]," was De Falco's now famous command to Schettino, who was later convicted of manslaughter.
Two years after, De Falco was transferred out of operational duties in Livorno to an administrative position. His transfer prompted calls for an investigation by some Italian members of parliament.
De Falco now appears to be moving away from the coastguard to politics. His name is on a list of people aiming to become a nominee to campaign for the senate under the country's populist Five Star Movement party.
De Falco's nomination is far from certain as about 2,000 others are vying for the role. But should he succeed, it would be a good start to his political career as national polls show Five Star ahead of Italy's current leading party.
